Van Kooten says hydraulic fracturing has brought money and jobs to other states. "In North Dakota, the state budget is robust," says the professor. "They're getting a lot of income from [fracking]."

There are also concerns about the environment and the potential for contaminated ground water. "The chemistry of the water you put down is important in making the frac-job work, but that water will all be produced at the surface," says Van Kooten. "You have to handle that."

Van Kooten says there are regulations -- varying from state to state -- require proper collection of the contaminated water. However, companies do not disclose what chemicals are in the liquid.

"Companies are very reluctant to release what's in their fluids because it's proprietary," the professor says. "The public, on the other hand, has the right to know what's being injected at depth."

The Department of Environmental Quality says hydraulic fracturing has never been responsible for environmental damage in Michigan. DEQ representatives say if the process posed a threat, they would further regulate it or outlaw it.

Gary Bart isn't convinced. "There is a safety factor we don't know about yet," he says.

In the meantime, Bart has been educating himself about fracking. He would like to see more regulation and more studies done about the affects on the environment.

Ada Township is drafting a letter to the DNR asking that it put off further auctions until more studies have been done about fracking. The township is also asking residents to educate themselves about the issue before allowing any kind of drilling on their property.